Self employed Tax Solutions 2nd Quick Simple Money Saving Audit Proof Tax and Recordkeeping Basics for the Independent Professional Self Employed Tax Solutions Quick Simple Money Saving
October 9, 2009 by sgtwak
Filed under Uncategorized
User Ratings and Reviews
2 Stars Recordkeeping, not Taxes
I found this book really disappointing. As another reviewer mentions, the title is very misleading. From reading the back, and the beginning, one might get the idea that this book will help with doing your own independent contractor taxes.
It isn’t until you actually get into the book that the author begins to repeat, “make sure to ask your tax professional about this”, and similar statements. She writes the book with the assumption that you have been an independent contractor for a while, already have a tax preparer, and are just trying to figure out better record/bookkeeping so the tax professional you already have can get you more deductions next year. (see the section on estimated payments for an example of this)
I am in a really basic independent contractor situation, and at least through the first year, I’d like to take care of my taxes for myself. I regret wasting my time reading this book, Tax Savvy for Small Business by Frederick Daily is turning out to be much more helpful.
5 Stars simple and direct
This is a well-written and engaging book! My only complaint is the book’s title, which IMO is misleading. A far better title would be something like “The Most Simple System: Recordkeeping for Sole Proprietors” (alternative version: replace ‘Sole Proprietors’ with ‘Independent Professionals’). I’ve been an ‘independent professional’ for quite a few years, but still picked up a few useful tips.
5 Stars A freelancer’s ally
2008 was the first year I earned most of my income from freelance work. I started to freak out in February, worried that I’m going to be saddled with a crazy tax payment in April, so I started shopping around for books that will help me know how and what to deduct. Don’t ask me why I didn’t do this at the beginning of last year, when I started working contractually and invented a crazy expense journaling method and compulsive receipt-saving habit. (I think having an actuary for a father and a stableful of CPA relatives warped my brain advantageously in this case.)
Anyway, there are heaps of lengthy, boring, expensive tax prep books out there that are, above all else, irrelevant to freelancers’ situations. At best, you ignore them. At worst, you follow advice that costs you at tax time.
June Walker, the author of this great book, makes it clear from the outset that she’s looking out for the self-employed, home office-operating “indie.” And it’s true. Before I found her book, I caught myself muttering in bookstore aisles, in response to other authors’ recommendations, “Jesus Christ! The whole federal tax code is written to perpetuate dishonest business practices and encourage capitalist greed” – among other ridiculous bitter statements.
But June’s examples and advice clearly come from years of experience working with folks like me, plus her solutions are easy to implement. An unexpected perk was that I found the book empowering – it encourages boss-less workers to take themselves seriously and be proudly independent. Can’t recommend it highly enough!
5 Stars Fantastic!
As a small business owner and a person who hates math, taxes, or anything resembling the two, this book is a godsend! I still can’t believe I read the entire thing! I reference it often, and have changed my entire way of book keeping (or lack thereof). This is the best tax book ever! Simple to read and understand, full of easy to use and implement ideas. I can’t say enough about how this book has changed my entire view of the dreaded book keeping end of my business!
